* Image used in this article is a 100% speculative render, by Autobild *

In case you missed it in the recent statements by the BMW CEO, the BMW X4 SAV is confirmed to be hitting the market in 2014.

Also being confirmed by BMW is an already well-accepted fact - that the upcoming X4 will be built solely at the U.S. Spartanburg plant, which already produces the X3, X5 and X6. The X1 is built in Europe (or in China for the Chinese market).

"I need more capacity in Spartanburg, not only for the upcoming X4, but also for the current X range," Ian Robertson, BMW's board member for marketing and sales, recently told Automotive News. The plant is currently undergoing expansion as part of a plan by BMW to invest nearly 900 million USD in the plant by 2014. This will expand Spartanburg's annual capacity from almost 300,000 units last year to 350,000 units. Robertson says that the company could have sold 35,000 more X3s worldwide if the Spartanburg plant had been able to build them.

He also says that the X4 will be sportier than the X3 and will complement the X3, without cannibalizing sales, as the X6 has complemented sales of the X5. "With the X6 we attract a completely different buyer from the X5 and we expect the same happening for the X4 versus the X3."

What about a possible range topping X4 M model? It's still too early to tell. Although BMW M President Dr. Friedrich Nitschke previously confirmed to us that there would be no M version of the current X3 model, he left open the possibility of there being one for the next generation X3. Will this be a case of the X4 getting an M model prior to the X3 getting one? We shall see.

The X4 will not be the end of BMW's X SAV expansion, with several models still rumored to come, including a flagship X7. Per BMW insider Scott26:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott26

...we will be making further X vehicles over the current X1 , X3 , X5 and X6. About another 7 models are planned. Including an additional model for the X3.

This is definitely a new direction for BMW but I don't mind the renderings. They're obviously trying to fill in each preceived niche in the market. Just don't water down the ///M's (though some would say it's too late!)

soo.. because the x5/6 has grown in size, and the x3 is the size of the older x5, the x4 sorta makes sense.. whats next? x8? x4 m440d xdrive?? badges are starting to resemble serial numbers for computer parts..

i think of all automakers.. honda has it right.. you want a sedan? take the civic.. oh you want bigger? take the accord... bmw seems to want to exploit every niche possible.. what are you GM of germany? you see what happened to them, right?

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrPig

Range Rover has a 2-door Evoque, so anything is possible in this day an age.

Reminds me of the ford bronco and k5 blazer days. are we seeing the return of a 2dr suv?

Can BMW really sell enough of all these new models to make it worth while?

They're certainly betting that this is the case:

Quote:

Robertson says that the company could have sold 35,000 more X3s worldwide if the Spartanburg plant had been able to build them.

That quote applies only to the X3, but they appear to be supply constrained. Flexible platform sharing is the holy grail of automotive technology. How many times have you heard someone say, "I'd totally buy car XYZ, but I really don't like how it ABC" in response to a refresh of an existing model? Varying the line up is a means to capture more buyers by providing specifically the car they want.

Unfortunately (maybe) for BMW, this could also be history repeating itself. Detroit has used a similar strategy in the past. That's how GM ended up with so many brands. The idea was to diversify their line up to the point that they literally had a car for everyone. The difference with BMW is better technology is available this round. Better platform sharing technology allows for a lot of flexibility, while still reducing engineering and tooling costs.

Says who? 1-Series yes, 3-Series no longer the runaway winner, and 5-Series, I would not say is better than the A6 or E-Class. 7-Series, forget it. In that segment it's clearly behind the A8 and definitely behind the upcoming S-Class.

It's not like in years past where you can say, I would pick any BMW over it's competitors. There's a decision that needs to be made because no one marque is stronger than the others - not anymore.

The same as a 4-door SUV minus 2 doors. Not everyone needs 4-doors, hence why there are coupe verions of sedans. Another reason would be the size and/or wheelbase. If you don't want the extra size or longer wheelbase, the 2-door version of an SUV may be a better fit. For example, look at the 4-door vs. 2-door versions of:

We don't need any more series of cars. Ditch the 3GT, 5GT and all new series, use the money to make your 1,3,5 better.

Sincerely,
-Everyone

I said the same exact thing a little while back. The brand is becoming diluted! If anyone here has any idea about sneakers, what BMW is doing now, is similar to what Jordan brand did started doing back around his retirement. And now, Jordan brand has lost its luster. I know it's comparing apples and oranges, but i hope the same doesn't happen to BMW....